Thomas Mein, Elena Day, Alice Colling and Oscar Amey secured hard-fought National Trophy Series titles as the 2023/24 season came to a thrilling conclusion in Yorkshire as Tong hosted the national Cyclocross Series for the first time.
In the four races, held under Bradford sunshine, there were victories for Mein, Colling, Ella Maclean-Howell, and Lewis Tinsley as the field prepared itself for next weekend’s National Championships in Falkirk (13/14 January).
Oscar Amey clinched the National Trophy title in the Junior men’s finale at a muddy but bright Tong as the weather warmed up and turned the early morning ice to slop – but it was Lewis Tinsley (BCC Race Team) who prevailed in a thrilling race between the pair.
The two were locked in battle from the very start, laying down the power on what is a very long and relatively flat start to the lap in Yorkshire. Joined for the first few laps by Luca Bednarek (Kirklees Cycling Academy), the trio were successful in breaking clear from what was a splintering pack behind unable to keep up with the power being put out.
Having to keep up that high pressure eventually proved too much for Bednarek who started to drop behind. Amey did slightly gap Tinsley for a time, but with quick laps being put out, energy conservation proved key and Tinsley started to come back and rejoined the GKR Racing rider at the sharp-end.
Locked together for the final couple of laps, it looked like a sprint to the finish was going to be in order. However, on the final lap Tinsley’s energy preservation mid-race proved vital and he powered clear to take an untroubled victory.
Despite taking the win, Tinsley was pipped to the overall title by Amey, while Seth Jackson (Acrog-Tormans) rounded out the podium as he proved to be best of the rest in an ever changing battle behind, with Hetton Hawks’ Nathaniel Henderson taking fourth and Alex Hart fifth for Mid Shropshire Wheelers.
Alice Colling took the Junior Women’s title in domineering fashion as the local racer excelled on home turf to take her fourth win of the season.
From the start, she just managed to get herself into an optimal position as the course started to narrow, but it was by no means a convincing lead with Rebecca Woodvine (RR23 – runandride.co.uk) right on her back wheel through the mud for the first time.
With the sun continuing to beat down, that mud started to suck in wheels and even minute fractions of line choice could be the difference between smooth running and bogging down.
Colling was impervious to any issues, choosing her lines to perfection and fully committing to the steep wooded section to open up a gap to anyone who dare challenge her.
The biggest threat came from Esther Wong (Shibden Apex RT) who powered her way into a slender lead on the second lap, but couldn’t do much to hold off the hard-charging Colling and was relegated down a place just a lap later.
An intriguing battle came in the shape of Woodvine and Bethany-Ann Jackson (Pine Sport) going at it hammer and tongs for third with Ellie Mitchinson (Montezuma’s Race Team) lurking behind in fifth and looking to take positions when she could.
As the race wore on, there was no change in the lead duo, but the battle for the final podium position swung in the favour of Jackson who held on from a closing Mitchinson. Woodvine took fifth to cap off a successful season in the overall competition with the runner-up spot ahead of Mitchinson.
In a captivating battle between youth and experience, it was Ella Maclean-Howell (Hope Tech Factory Racing) who prevailed in a dominant ride to distance Derby winner Nikki Brammeier and take her first win of the season.
In the battle for the Series honours, a strong ride to third for Elena Day (Team Spectra Cannondale P/B DAS) secured her the Overall and the U23 titles.
From the very start of the race, it was clear that Maclean-Howell was on a mission having gained a decent gap after just half a lap of riding. Brammeier was within touching distance in second on the opening tour, but a Christmas bout of illness started to tell as the usual reliable diesel engine that powers the former National Champion wasn’t quite as strong as usual.
That allowed Maclean-Howell to power clear, consistently setting quick laps to put her well out of trouble and cross the line with a good margin over Brammeier.
The latter wasn’t troubled on her way to second, helped in large part by Day expending a lot of energy early on in a back-and-forth battle with Alderney Baker (Team Empella) for third. By the time Day muscled her way clear, she didn’t have enough laps left to really try and launch an attack on Brammeier.
It was still more than enough to secure her both of the jerseys, capping off a successful first season in the green, black and gold of Spectra having moved across at the start of the CX season.
Sixth in the race allowed Ruby James (Hope Factory Racing) to take second in the Overall standings ahead of Hope Inglis (Brother UK – Orientation Marketing).
In the U23, Inglis finished the campaign second with Kacey Eyeington (Derwentside CC) third.
Thomas Mein (Hope Factory Racing) put in what is known as a ‘typical Thomas Mein’ performance as he absorbed early pressure from Ribble-Verge Sport’s Toby Barnes to take yet another win in the National Trophy Series and confirm his success in the Overall competition.
From the very start it was Mein, Toby Barnes and Lewis Martin (Studio Velo) who pressed a high pace and as they went down the devilish descent into the woods they were given a helping hand as Dan Barnes (Team Spectra Cannondale P/B DAS) came unstuck in a rut on the left-handed corner at the bottom of the slope and ended up on his back, causing a few other riders to fall in the process.
No one was hurt, except maybe a bit of pride, but it meant the lead trio had an unexpected early advantage. Not that Mein needs any help. Putting out serious watts on a course where the rain over the last few weeks made the course an almost Belgian-style mud bath, he absorbed pressure from Toby Barnes and the pair started to break clear.
Martin faded as the duo stormed ahead, and lost his third place to Dan Barnes as the U23 leader recovered quickly and got his rhythm back.
There was no ability to mount a charge though, as all the podium positions were locked in pretty quick thanks to the rapid pace all of them were putting in. While Mein didn’t particularly extend his margin by big chunks every lap, he was staying consistent and that proved to be too much for Toby Barnes who remained a pretty lonely second as he made sure he didn’t lose any of his advantage over his fellow Barnes.
Martin took fourth, a solid result as the field got itself a last bit of race practice ahead of next week’s National Championships in Falkirk.
The final standings in the season-long competition mirrored the race results with Toby Barnes finishing ahead of Dan. The latter won the U23 competition, with team-mate Simon Wyllie second and Scott Fisher (Hope Tech Factory Racing) rounding out the podium.
Thomas Mein, Elena Day, Alice Colling and Oscar Amey secured hard-fought National Trophy Series titles as the 2023/24 season came to a thrilling conclusion in Yorkshire as Tong hosted the national Cyclocross Series for the first time.
In the four races, held under Bradford sunshine, there were victories for Mein, Colling, Ella Maclean-Howell, and Lewis Tinsley as the field prepared itself for next weekend’s National Championships in Falkirk (13/14 January).
Featured Image: Joe Hudson
Reports
Men’s junior
Oscar Amey clinched the National Trophy title in the Junior men’s finale at a muddy but bright Tong as the weather warmed up and turned the early morning ice to slop – but it was Lewis Tinsley (BCC Race Team) who prevailed in a thrilling race between the pair.
The two were locked in battle from the very start, laying down the power on what is a very long and relatively flat start to the lap in Yorkshire. Joined for the first few laps by Luca Bednarek (Kirklees Cycling Academy), the trio were successful in breaking clear from what was a splintering pack behind unable to keep up with the power being put out.
Having to keep up that high pressure eventually proved too much for Bednarek who started to drop behind. Amey did slightly gap Tinsley for a time, but with quick laps being put out, energy conservation proved key and Tinsley started to come back and rejoined the GKR Racing rider at the sharp-end.
Locked together for the final couple of laps, it looked like a sprint to the finish was going to be in order. However, on the final lap Tinsley’s energy preservation mid-race proved vital and he powered clear to take an untroubled victory.
Despite taking the win, Tinsley was pipped to the overall title by Amey, while Seth Jackson (Acrog-Tormans) rounded out the podium as he proved to be best of the rest in an ever changing battle behind, with Hetton Hawks’ Nathaniel Henderson taking fourth and Alex Hart fifth for Mid Shropshire Wheelers.
Women’s junior
Alice Colling took the Junior Women’s title in domineering fashion as the local racer excelled on home turf to take her fourth win of the season.
From the start, she just managed to get herself into an optimal position as the course started to narrow, but it was by no means a convincing lead with Rebecca Woodvine (RR23 – runandride.co.uk) right on her back wheel through the mud for the first time.
With the sun continuing to beat down, that mud started to suck in wheels and even minute fractions of line choice could be the difference between smooth running and bogging down.
Colling was impervious to any issues, choosing her lines to perfection and fully committing to the steep wooded section to open up a gap to anyone who dare challenge her.
The biggest threat came from Esther Wong (Shibden Apex RT) who powered her way into a slender lead on the second lap, but couldn’t do much to hold off the hard-charging Colling and was relegated down a place just a lap later.
An intriguing battle came in the shape of Woodvine and Bethany-Ann Jackson (Pine Sport) going at it hammer and tongs for third with Ellie Mitchinson (Montezuma’s Race Team) lurking behind in fifth and looking to take positions when she could.
As the race wore on, there was no change in the lead duo, but the battle for the final podium position swung in the favour of Jackson who held on from a closing Mitchinson. Woodvine took fifth to cap off a successful season in the overall competition with the runner-up spot ahead of Mitchinson.
Women’s elite
In a captivating battle between youth and experience, it was Ella Maclean-Howell (Hope Tech Factory Racing) who prevailed in a dominant ride to distance Derby winner Nikki Brammeier and take her first win of the season.
In the battle for the Series honours, a strong ride to third for Elena Day (Team Spectra Cannondale P/B DAS) secured her the Overall and the U23 titles.
From the very start of the race, it was clear that Maclean-Howell was on a mission having gained a decent gap after just half a lap of riding. Brammeier was within touching distance in second on the opening tour, but a Christmas bout of illness started to tell as the usual reliable diesel engine that powers the former National Champion wasn’t quite as strong as usual.
That allowed Maclean-Howell to power clear, consistently setting quick laps to put her well out of trouble and cross the line with a good margin over Brammeier.
The latter wasn’t troubled on her way to second, helped in large part by Day expending a lot of energy early on in a back-and-forth battle with Alderney Baker (Team Empella) for third. By the time Day muscled her way clear, she didn’t have enough laps left to really try and launch an attack on Brammeier.
It was still more than enough to secure her both of the jerseys, capping off a successful first season in the green, black and gold of Spectra having moved across at the start of the CX season.
Sixth in the race allowed Ruby James (Hope Factory Racing) to take second in the Overall standings ahead of Hope Inglis (Brother UK – Orientation Marketing).
In the U23, Inglis finished the campaign second with Kacey Eyeington (Derwentside CC) third.
Men’s elite
Thomas Mein (Hope Factory Racing) put in what is known as a ‘typical Thomas Mein’ performance as he absorbed early pressure from Ribble-Verge Sport’s Toby Barnes to take yet another win in the National Trophy Series and confirm his success in the Overall competition.
From the very start it was Mein, Toby Barnes and Lewis Martin (Studio Velo) who pressed a high pace and as they went down the devilish descent into the woods they were given a helping hand as Dan Barnes (Team Spectra Cannondale P/B DAS) came unstuck in a rut on the left-handed corner at the bottom of the slope and ended up on his back, causing a few other riders to fall in the process.
No one was hurt, except maybe a bit of pride, but it meant the lead trio had an unexpected early advantage. Not that Mein needs any help. Putting out serious watts on a course where the rain over the last few weeks made the course an almost Belgian-style mud bath, he absorbed pressure from Toby Barnes and the pair started to break clear.
Martin faded as the duo stormed ahead, and lost his third place to Dan Barnes as the U23 leader recovered quickly and got his rhythm back.
There was no ability to mount a charge though, as all the podium positions were locked in pretty quick thanks to the rapid pace all of them were putting in. While Mein didn’t particularly extend his margin by big chunks every lap, he was staying consistent and that proved to be too much for Toby Barnes who remained a pretty lonely second as he made sure he didn’t lose any of his advantage over his fellow Barnes.
Martin took fourth, a solid result as the field got itself a last bit of race practice ahead of next week’s National Championships in Falkirk.
The final standings in the season-long competition mirrored the race results with Toby Barnes finishing ahead of Dan. The latter won the U23 competition, with team-mate Simon Wyllie second and Scott Fisher (Hope Tech Factory Racing) rounding out the podium.
Results
Men’s Junior
Women’s Junior
Women’s elite
Men’s elite
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